Thebarefootfoodie

Beijing Encounters ( Part 2 ) Posted on 4 Nov 2011 Mutianyu - Great Wall   This is a stretch of the Great Wall which is further afield - read fewer tourists, less touch-up work. Its appeal factor is boosted by a ski lift ride uphill and a tobaggan ride downhill. The catch - it is a good 180 minutes from Beijing by public bus. Our two intrepid travellers rose to the challenge.  First, we needed to track down special bus 867 that goes from Dongzhimen to Mutianyu. We set off bright and early at 7 am, bracing ourselves for the usual hit and miss rounds of getting directions from the locals. Bus 867 was supposed to leave the terminus at 8.30 am, or so the guide book said. We made it to the bus-stop at 8.45 am, after a convoluted search, huffing and puffing. There was a long queue before us - a good sign that the bus has not left without us. Rubber time operates here. The bus arrived at 9.30 am and everyone scrambled aboard. The more fortunate found seats, others li...

Beijing Encounters ( Part 1 ) Posted on 3 Nov 2011 I ended up as an accidental tourist in Beijing to pin down a good pal who has so much on her plate that she has no time to do lunch, let alone anything else. After a few missed lunch appointments , I decided to wait till she gets back to planet earth.  And so the weeks went by, until one day, a sack of durians got dropped off at my place with a message from A " Hi Y, thought you might like these." Another time, on a not so happy occasion, we met at a wake and when I mentioned lunch, hoping to be third time lucky, her husband, KH,  said that he was also subjected to the same. Ok, forgiven. Being the architect who has had a hand in designing some of the icons and landmarks in Singapore, I guess brilliance breeds some eccentricity and is entitled to a wide berth. Then came the invitation to join her and KH ( the hubby ) in Beijing. Reason - KH will be running the Marathon, and since she will be there.... Prime Ho...